MDT to PST Converter
Convert time between Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) and Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Time Difference
Pacific Standard Time (PST) is 0 hours ahead of Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| MDT | PST |
|---|---|
| 19:00 | 18:00 |
| 21:00 | 20:00 |
| 23:00 | 22:00 |
| 01:00 | 00:00 |
| 03:00 | 02:00 |
| 05:00 | 04:00 |
| 07:00 | 06:00 |
| 09:00 | 08:00 |
| 11:00 | 10:00 |
| 13:00 | 12:00 |
| 15:00 | 14:00 |
| 17:00 | 16:00 |
Top 10 Most Common Time Zones
| Abbreviation | Full Name | UTC Offset | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTC | Coordinated Universal Time | UTC ±0 | Global reference standard (servers, logs, APIs) |
| EST / EDT | Eastern (US) Time | UTC −5 / −4 | New York, Toronto — North American business hub |
| CST / CDT | Central (US) Time | UTC −6 / −5 | Chicago, Dallas — US central business region |
| PST / PDT | Pacific (US) Time | UTC −8 / −7 | San Francisco, Los Angeles — tech industry standard |
| GMT / BST | Greenwich Mean / British Summer Time | UTC 0 / +1 | UK, used globally as a reference with UTC |
| CET / CEST | Central European (Summer) Time | UTC +1 / +2 | Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam — EU business core |
| IST | India Standard Time | UTC +5:30 | India — major IT & outsourcing region |
| CST | China Standard Time | UTC +8 | Beijing, Shanghai — East Asia business hub |
| JST | Japan Standard Time | UTC +9 | Tokyo — finance & tech hub |
| AEST / AEDT | Australian Eastern (Daylight) Time | UTC +10 / +11 | Sydney, Melbourne — APAC regional business |
Why Time Zone Abbreviations Are Ambiguous
Unlike standardized identifiers (like America/New_York or Europe/London from the IANA tz database), abbreviations such as "CST" or "IST" are not globally unique. They can refer to different time zones depending on context — country, region, or even time of year (due to daylight saving time).
Common Ambiguous Time Zone Abbreviations
| Abbrev. | Common Meaning(s) | UTC Offset | Region(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CST | Central Standard Time / China Standard Time / Cuba Standard Time | UTC−6 / UTC+8 / UTC−5 | North America, China, Cuba |
| IST | Indian Standard Time / Irish Standard Time / Israel Standard Time | UTC+5:30 / UTC+1 / UTC+2 | India, Ireland, Israel |
| AST | Atlantic Standard Time / Arabia Standard Time | UTC−4 / UTC+3 | Caribbean, Canada, Middle East |
| PST | Pacific Standard Time / Philippine Standard Time | UTC−8 / UTC+8 | North America, Philippines |
| EST | Eastern Standard Time (North America / Australia) | UTC−5 / UTC+10 | North America, Australia |
✅ Best Practice
To avoid ambiguity, always:
- Use IANA tz identifiers — e.g.,
America/New_Yorkinstead of "EST" - Specify UTC offset explicitly — e.g.,
UTC−5when abbreviations must be used - Include the full timezone name — e.g., "Eastern Standard Time (EST)" with UTC offset
Related Time Zone Conversions
About MDT to PST Time Conversion
Converting time between Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) and Pacific Standard Time (PST) is important for coordinating between the Mountain and Pacific regions during different seasons. MDT is UTC-6 (used March to November), while PST is UTC-8 (used November to March). PST is exactly 2 hours behind MDT, making this conversion relevant during the overlap period when MDT is in effect but PST is in use.
This converter is useful for business operations, travel planning, and communications between Mountain region organizations and West Coast teams, particularly when dealing with seasonal timezone transitions. Understanding this relationship is crucial for companies spanning Denver, Salt Lake City, and Pacific Coast cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Common Use Cases for MDT to PST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling meetings between Mountain and Pacific region offices during seasonal transitions
- Coordinating project deadlines across time zones
- Planning conference calls and webinars between regions
- Managing distributed teams during daylight saving time changes
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel between Mountain and Pacific time zones
- Coordinating with family and friends across regions
- Scheduling virtual events and online meetings
- Understanding time differences during daylight saving transitions
Time Zone Information
Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
- UTC Offset: UTC-6 (UTC-7 during MST)
- IANA Timezone: America/Denver
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Boise, Fort Collins
- Coverage: Mountain United States and parts of Canada
Pacific Standard Time (PST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-8 (UTC-7 during PDT)
- IANA Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Portland
- Coverage: Pacific United States and Canada
Quick Reference: MDT to PST
Remember: PST is always 2 hours behind MDT. This 2-hour difference occurs when MDT is active (March-November) and PST is active (November-March), typically during the transition periods in March and November.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between MDT and PST?
Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) is UTC-6, while Pacific Standard Time (PST) is UTC-8. This means MDT is 2 hours ahead of PST. When it's 2:00 PM in Denver (MDT), it's 12:00 PM (noon) in Los Angeles (PST).
When is this time conversion most relevant?
This conversion is most relevant during the overlap period when MDT is in effect (March to November) and PST is in use (November to March). Specifically, this occurs during the transition months of March and November. During other times, the conversion changes to MDT to PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) or MST to PST.
Does both Mountain and Pacific regions observe daylight saving time?
Yes, both Mountain and Pacific regions observe daylight saving time on the same dates. They transition on the second Sunday in March (to daylight time) and the first Sunday in November (back to standard time). However, they use different times: Mountain has MDT/MST and Pacific has PDT/PST.
What is the time difference when both regions are in standard time?
When both regions are in standard time (November to March), Mountain Standard Time (MST) is UTC-7 and Pacific Standard Time (PST) is UTC-8, making the difference 1 hour instead of 2 hours. During daylight saving time (March to November), the difference is 2 hours (MDT to PDT).
What are the best times to schedule calls between Mountain and Pacific regions?
Since the time difference is only 2 hours, there is significant overlap in business hours. Morning meetings in the Mountain region (8-10 AM MDT) align well with evening/early morning in the Pacific region (6-8 AM PST). Afternoon meetings in the Mountain region (2-4 PM MDT) work well for morning in the Pacific region (12-2 PM PST).
Why is understanding this conversion important for businesses?
Many companies have operations spanning the Mountain and Pacific regions. Tech companies in Denver and Salt Lake City often coordinate with West Coast offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The 2-hour difference is manageable for real-time collaboration, making these regions ideal for distributed teams and continuous operations.
Pro Tips
- • The 2-hour offset is one of the smallest in North America - ideal for businesses needing real-time collaboration between Mountain and West Coast offices.
- • MDT and PDT both transition on the same dates, but the difference changes from 2 hours to 1 hour when MDT ends and MST begins.
- • Morning Mountain meetings (8-10 AM MDT) correspond to early morning Pacific time (6-8 AM PST) - perfect for catch-up calls before the Pacific business day.
- • Afternoon Mountain meetings (3-5 PM MDT) align with late morning Pacific time (1-3 PM PST) - great for collaborative work sessions.
- • Denver offices (MDT) and Los Angeles offices (PST) have excellent overlap - 10 AM MDT = 8 AM PST, allowing full business day collaboration.
- • Document all meeting times clearly during March and November transitions when the time difference may change for one region.
Update Logs
View the latest updates and features